Search

Search site:

Safety and Sentencing

Our Safety and Sentencing program works to develop approaches to public safety that help foster safe communities, are fiscally responsible, and curb the unsustainable growth of Oregon’s prison system. The program promotes safe and sensible sentencing reform (such as use of earned time), diversion programs like drug court, and has a special emphasis on youth justice.

Program Spotlight

PSJ's Lobby Day on March 16th was a resounding success! PSJ members making their voices heard at the Capitol is how we make change happen. Thanks to everyone who attended and made the day so successful. But there's lots more to be done. Here's how everyone can advocate for safety and justice!

PSJ's Executive Director, Andy Ko, writes how what happened in Ferguson helps reaffirm our commitment to public safety policy that protects everyone - to the greatest extent and without exception - and a system that prioritizes justice.

If you are a savvy social media user and you're interested in working for justice, this may be the intership for you. Work with PSJ staff to increase PSJ's social media presence and internet activism by PSJ's members.

No one should go to jail for marijuana. Too many people have been punished, and too many of them have been youth and people of color. Too many tax dollars have been wasted without increasing public safety.

Issue News

A coalition including district attorneys, sheriffs, and justice reform groups (including PSJ) is asking the legislature to triple funding for the Justice Reinvestment grant program. The program funds services like parole, drug treatment, transitional housing, and mental health.

Oregon legislators were wise to allocate at least 10% of JR funds to community-based nonprofit victim services programs. We look forward to seeing counties invest this crucial funding into key - but often overlooked - pieces of our public safety system that literally safe victims' lives.

MLK said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” President Obama added, “But it does not do so on its own. It does so because there are hands of ordinary people doing extraordinary things every single day and they pull that arc in the direction of justice."

Our overreliance on prisons has failed America. It is past time for both political parties to come together and fix a bad system of their own making. This moment offers a once-in-a generation opportunity for reforms that will save entire communities and transform the lives of millions.

Executive Director Andy Ko writes for our regular Street Roots column about poverty within our wealthy nation and how rather than feeling helpless against the rich and powerful, if we all put just a little money into supporting organizations that are doing good work, we can make a difference.